What’s in a name? – ‘significance’ suggests the PJIWGS

The Pauline Jewett Institute of Women’s Studies is making an important name change. It will now include ‘gender studies’ to become the Pauline Jewett Institute of Women’s and Gender Studies to more accurately represent its teaching and research.

Virginia Caputo, associate professor and director of the institute since 2005, says the institute focuses on issues pertaining not only to women’s lives, but to understanding gender as the power relations that comprise masculinities and femininities. “Adding gender to the institute’s name more accurately reflects the expansive and critical direction we wish to continue to move in teaching our courses and in working with our students,” says Caputo.

Pauline Coupar, Pauline Jewett’s niece, approved the name change. Coupar was very supportive and indicated that her aunt wanted ‘gender’ included in the name from the beginning, according to Caputo.

The PJIWGS will also welcome Carleton’s president, Dr. Roseann O’Reilly Runte, as a faculty member. Dr. Runte was one of the founders of the Women’s Studies Program at Dalhousie University and her work focuses in part on the lives of women and questions of gender. “My colleagues and I are thrilled to have such a prominent scholar with a wealth of experience as a colleague,” says Caputo.

Dr. Runte, who is also part of the French faculty, is equally delighted to become a member of the newly renamed institute. “I am eager to join my colleagues who are doing such important work in this area. Women’s and gender issues touch our lives daily and it is imperative that we continue to explore these issues.”

The official renaming ceremony will take place Monday, September 22, 2008 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in 2017 Dunton Tower. Writer and storyteller, Ivan Coyote will give a short presentation, and Pauline Coupar and her daughter Kelly will attend. Please see www.carleton.ca/womensstudies for more information.

The institute plans to launch a stand-alone women’s and gender studies undergraduate degree and there is discussion around introducing a new graduate program in women’s and gender studies next year.